Varuzhan Hoktanyan, Executive Director of Transparency International Anti-corruption Center (TIAC) addressed a panel discussion on the state of civil society in the South Caucasus, organized by the Central Eurasia Project of Open Society Foundations, held in Tbilisi on June 19, 2012. One of the objectives of the given panel discussion was to explore the opening for civil society to promote human rights in the South Caucasus.

Another important objective of the discussion was to examine the environment in which civil society organizations are operating in Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia, including the improving or worsening trends in the harassment of human rights defenders and the ability of NGOs to operate without state interference.

Other panel discussions during the event reflected on policy analysis and research in the South Caucasus and Central Asia; protection of property rights in the South Caucasus, etc.